President of Tatarstan meets with South Australia Prime Minister

One of the South Australia’s striking characteristics is that people of various ethnicities and faiths co-exist here peacefully and comfortably, while the government ensures that they can preserve their language, traditions and cultures. President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said it at a meeting with South Australia Prime Minister of South Australia Mike Rann.

The meeting took place at the House of Parliament in Adelaide. Tatarstan was represented by President of Tatarstan Department of Foreign Relations director and aide to President of Tatarstan Iskander Muflikhanov.

R. Minnikhanov thanked Mike Rann for the respectful attitude to the Tatar community in South Australia. The Tatars have an opportunity to preserve their uniqueness and language, and to develop them.

“The cultural diversity gives dynamism to the whole South Australia,” Premier Rann said. “We believe this is Australia’s power.”

The state had officially marked 60 years since Tatars had first arrived to the continent. Adelaide is home to the largest Tatar community in Australia, he went on to say.

R. Minnikhanov told about the existing cooperation with Australian manufacturers, which includes cooperation in the field of animal production and the agro industrial branch. The areas for cooperation need to be increased, Tatarstan governor said. They may include education and specialist training at Australian higher schools. R. Minnikhanov remarked on the high level of education in the country and availability of education programmes. Besides, training specialists from Tatarstan in Australia should allow them improve their English language skills, which requires direct contacts, he added.

He went on to present the Tatarstan’s economy and its major industries. We could turn out to find mutual interests in these fields, R. Minnikhanov noted.

Mike Rann thanked R. Minnikhanov for the visit, saying Tatarstan would be rendered assistance in all areas for cooperation. R. Minnikhanov had earlier in the day visited a SARDI institute branch and displayed an interest in its research. We are willing to assist you in this matter, he pledged.

Speaking of cooperation on educational programmes, Australia does indeed have strong university training, Prime Minister said. The country is famous for its Nobel Prize winners and outstanding studies. Australia has branches of London-based and US universities.

Mike Rann shared with President of Tatarstan his impressions from Kazan. He only knows it from photos but plans to pay a visit to the city, since it has a beautiful architecture and a millennium-long history.

Mike Rann proposed developing the Kazan’s tourist industry. Australians like to travel and are very mobile, he said, but their traditional destinations in Russia are Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, and they know little or nothing of other regions.

In conclusion, R. Minnikhanov made a note in the Distinguished Visitors Book of the South Australia’s parliament, the President of Tatarstan’s press service reports.